Portable sanding machine



Jan. 8 1924. 1,480,285

- R. A. MOORE PORTABLE SANDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 3 1917 2 Sheets-Sheet1 TTCEA/EYQS.

PORTABLE SANDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31 1917 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fiberfAMbO Patented Jan. 8 1924.

UNITED STATES ROBERT A. MOORE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

PORTABLE SANDING MACHINE.

Application filed December 31, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. Moons, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Detroit, county of lVayne, and State of Michigan, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Portable Sanding Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification, the principle of the inventionbeing herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplatedapplying that principle, so' as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present invention, relating, as indicated to a portable surfacingmachine, has particular reference to a machine which may be readilyoperated by a single person for the purpose of smoothing up curvedsurfaces, such for example as automobile bodies, although obviously theinvention is not limited to any particular use. A further object of theinvention is to provide a mechanism which may be readily operated by asingle person for the purpose of rubbing or smoothing concave surfaces,and surfaces which include moldings which must ordinarily be rubbed byhand, with considerable labor and the expenditure of a great deal oftime. A further object of the invention is the provision in such amachine of means for continuously and effectively removing the dirt,grit and other material which is abraded from the surface being rubbed.To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improvedmachine in operation against a vertical surface; Fig. 2 is a similarview on an enlarged scale with the side cover plate removed to show themechanism; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is anelevation of one of the rolls for supporting the belt; ig. 5 is asection-on the line 55, Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an elevation of the roll shownin Fig. 4 when in operating contact with a curved concave surface, suchView also showing the sanding belt in transverse section; Fi 7 is anenlarged end view of one .of the rol s showing the condition of the beltwhen Serial No. 209,756.

passing thereover; Fig. 8 is a plan view of one form of belt; Fig. 9 isa sectional view through a corner of the casing; and Figs. 10 and 11 areviews of a belt construction that may be used.

As will readily be seen from Figs. 1 and 2, my improved mechanismconsists of a rectangular box-like casing 1, on one side of which ismounted a handle 2, and in the end of which there is provided aconduit 3for receiving and introducing fluid pressure for operating a motor 4shown in outline only in Figure 2. The end opposite to that receivingthe conduit 3 is formed at an acute angle to the side bearing the handle2, and is the end of the device at which the sanding or rubbing belt isexposed to operate against a surface. Thus in Fig. 1 a belt 5 is shownin operative contact with a substantially vertical surface 6, and thebelt 5, as indicated in Figure 2, extends over a ulley or roller 7mounted at the left end of t e casing under an idler or tension pulley 8and over a plurality of parallel supporting rolls 9. Ad jacent to thepulley 7 is a second roller or driving pulley 10, which engages againstthe surface of the belt 5 and is driven by means of a gear 11 mounted onthe end of the shaft bearing the pulley 1O exteriorly of the casing, andis driven by a gear 12 also disposed exteriorly of the casing, and isdriven by the shaft 13 of the motor 4. The roller 10 is mounted in theends of two supporting links 14 shown in Fig. 2, and may be adjustedtoward or away from the ulley 7 to take up any difference in thic nessof the belt 5.

I have not shown the detailed construction of the motor 4, and this maybe of any suitable type, although preferably a fluid pressure motor, asalready indicated, to which fluid pressure is supplied through theconduit 3, and which discharges such fluid pressure after use through aconduit 15 extending along the lower side of the casing adjacent to thebelt 5 and terminating in a narrow rectangular slot or mouth 16, whichis disposed at the end of the casing in a discharge opening 17formedtherein. This discharge casing 17 has its outer side extended towithin a very short distance of the lower end of the belt 5 where thesame passes around the lowermost one of the rolls 9. As the belt ismoved in a clockwise direction over the various rolls, it is movingtoward the discharge spout 17 and the pasupon by the belt 5, and thisdirt, grit and other material may either be discharged into theatmosphere or be collected in a suitable the same when once in position.

container (not shown) which may be attached to the end of the conduit 17The casing is formed open at the right end and is provided on its sides,which may be removed, with guide strips 19 and 20. On a framework 60,consisting of parallel plates, between which are supported the variousrolls and. belt, are formed complementary guides 21 and. 22, whichengage against guides 19 and 20 as the frame 60 is moved into the casingand properly positions The framework is locked by resilient latches 23which engage in openings 24 formed in the sides of the casing, as shownin Figures 2 and 3.

Each of the supporting rolls 9, the construction of which is shown inFigures 4, 5 and 6, consists of a plurality of individual and radiallydepressible sections 25. Each of these sections 25 consists of a spiralcoiled spring of relatively narrow width which has its inner end.attached to a shaft 26 which is rotatably mounted on pins 27 set intothe two sides of the casing. The connection of the coiled spring to theshaft is preferably by means of a bayonet joint for convenient removal,although the springs may of course.

be riveted to the shaft if desired, as is shown in Fi re 5.

It as been found that by using a large number of individual andrelatively narrow depressible sections in each of the rolls 9, it ispossible to operate over surfaces hav ing a considerable degree ofcurvature, whether the curvature be inward or outward, and this is ofgreat importance in connection with the smoothing of automobile bodiesand particularly around the con nection between the body proper and thedash, where there is usually more or less molding. It is difficult toproperly smooth fine inward curves in molding even though the work bedone by hand, and by means of the present rollers it is possible tofinish molding with extremely fine curves and in dented lines.

The present machine is adapted not only to sanding various surfaces, butalso to rubbing down varnish and for other uses, and it is onlynecessary, to adapt the machine for these various Iiurposes, to changethe belt. In Figure 6 have shown a sanding belt 28. This sanding belt 28is mounted upon a composition or cork belt 29, which in turn issupported upon one or more belts 30 of felt or wool. The use of a numberof belts gives the entire belt a thickness of perhaps a quarter of aninch, but makes it very flexible and strong, and in order to insureflexibility, both transverse and longitudinal, I preferably make aseries of transverse slits 31 in the cork belt which underlies thesanding belt. At right angles to the transverse slits 31 there areformed two or more longitudinal grooves 32 (see Figures 6 and 8), inwhich I dispose rubber bands 33 which tend to return the transversesections into their proper position after the belt has passed over anyof the rollers.

The motor end of the casing is provided with a removable side coverplate40 (see re 9), which is of course within the driving gears 11 and 12. Acover or housing 41 is mounted over the gears against the side of thecasing, a flange 42 being formed on the housing, as shown in Figure 9,which permitsconvenient attachment to the easing 1.

Another form of beltis shown in longitu-' dinal section in Figure 10.The outer surface of the same, supporting the sanding belt proper, isformed of separate narrow sections 44 held together by means of cords 43passing around each section and thus affording a ve strong but flexiblebelt layer. In Figure 11 show more clearly the retaining cable for thebelt strips.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may e employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctlg claim as my invention.

1. n a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing,a motor therein, a roller operated by said motor, a frame removablymounted therein, a series of spaced rollers on said frame, an endlessbelt mounted around said rollers on said frame and removable therewith,and means adapt ed to lock said frame in said casing with said belt inoperative relation with said first 3. A portable surfacing machinecomprisinga casing, a motor mounted in one end of said casing, a rollermounted adjacent said pose a relatively flat portion of said belt inmotor, a belt supporting means mounted at a plane at an acute angle tothe long dimenthe other end of said casing, an endless sursion of saidcasing. 10 facing belt mounted about said roller and Signed by me, this8th day of December,

5 said supporting means, means operably con- 1917. n

necting said belt and said motor, and said belt supporting means beingmounted to ex- ROBERT A. MOORE.

